Frederick h



' (Hommel.)

F. H. STURM.

` GATE. No. 530,629. vPamtelited Deo. 11, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. S'IIIRM, OF WEST MILFORD, VES'I VIRGINIA GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,629, dated December 1 1, 1 894.

Application inea .my 19,1894. serial No. 518.018. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concerm Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. STURM, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Milford, in the county of Harrison and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and uselsul Gate, of which the following is a specificalon.

The invention relates to improvements in gates.

vThe object of the present invention is to improve the construction of swinging gates, to prevent sagging, and to avoid bracing the same for the purpose of counteracting sagging.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate adapted to open in either direction, and capable of automatically closing and latching itself.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combinationand yarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustra-ted in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a gate constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a gate provided on one side near its inner end 2, with vertically aligned eyes 3, engaging pintles 4. of a hinge post 5, the gate being provided with a vertical bar 6, into which are dri'ven staples or other devices for forming the eyes 3. The inner end 2 of the gate is weighted, to counterbalance the outer portion, which is longer, and which is adapted to open in either direction from a latch post 7. By balancing the gate in this manner, all liability of sagging is prevented, and it is not necessary to brace the gate with a view of counteracting sagging.

After the gate has been opened, it is closed automatically by one of a pair of horizontally disposed spiral springs 8, located at opposite sides of the hinge post 5, `and having their rear ends secured to the rear face of the same, and their front ends attached to the front or outer face of the gate, on a vertical bar 9. In opening the gate in either direction, one of the spiral springs is distended, and as soon as the gate is free to return that spring will close it.

A latch 10 consisting of a spring is located at the outer or free end of the gate, and is adapted to engage a keeper 11 of the latch post,and supplementallatch posts (notshown) may be provided, if desired, to retain the gate in its open position.

It .will be seen that the gate is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it will not sag, and that it is capable of opening in either direction,` and ot closing automatically.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is-- The combination With a post rectangular in cross-section, of a balanced gate hinged ini termediate of its ends to the fence post and provided with a vertical bar located at the point of hinging, and the pair of horizontallyc disposed spiral springs disposed at opposite sides of the post and the bar and secured to the rear face of the former and connected to the gate, whereby when the gate is opened in either direction, a spring will be distended for closing the same, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed niysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

y FREDERICK H. S'IURM.

Witnesses:

CHARLES M. SLUssAR, WESLEY POST. 

